The Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel appear to be headed toward a split, even though things have quieted down since the team’s year-end media availability. At that point, Eichel was telling reporters that there was a “disconnect” between his camp and GM Kevyn Adams’ front office regarding his neck injury and it seemed like he already had one foot out the door. Well, that may still be the case, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet spoke to WGR 550 in Buffalo today and explained:
That’s the poker game we’re playing right now. Other teams are saying ’you’ve got an unhappy player who doesn’t want to come back’ and the Sabres I really think at the end of the day want to move on. They don’t want him back, they want to move on. The teams are going to play Buffalo’s “desperation” at that. The Sabres have to play a game that says ’okay, you guys can play that game, but somebody is going to get him. If you play it too cool or you play us too hardline, it won’t be you.’
Friedman also noted that some teams are even calling him to see what he knows about Eichel’s injury, given how little information the Sabres have released publicly to this point. The neck injury is a huge sticking point in the trade market, given the uncertainty over whether he will still require surgery and miss part of next season.
Of course, there is also the factor of a long-term contract that carries a cap hit of $10MM. That’s not an easy deal to swallow for any team, even if they can technically fit it at the moment. If Eichel can’t return to the player that scored 36 goals and 78 points in 2019-20, his contract quickly becomes an anchor. A trade will require a team that believes that he can get back to that level, and has the assets the Sabres will want in return. Even if Buffalo wants to move on, Adams will need to maximize the return as much as he can for a player who was seen as a franchise icon to this point.
Eichel is still young enough that he could comeback to his 19-20 form. I guess it all depends on his neck injury, and other factors.
I think JE is an extraordinary hockey player, and a big talented center teams covet. I worry about that neck injury a lot. I know , he’s still young,
With big upside if he’s healthy. I wonder if its too much to send draft picks, top prospects, and an established player or players for him. The only way i see doing that is if buffalo sends back more , like skinner, who had a down year…. We
will see what it takes if its true that he will be moved.
I 100% agree. I caution Sabres fans to temper their expectation as to what the return will look like for their captain.
What IS Eichel’s worth?? No denying his all-world talent . . . an elite, potentially franchise centreman on any team. . . . But we’re also talking about a 10 million per year, disgruntled player who’s currently in “limbo” with a significant injury, and a player who has a pretty lengthy history of injuries, as well. His stats don’t blow anyone away, either, at least not like the players he would like to be measured against (McDavid, Matthews, Draisaitl), and the fact that he’s never played playoff hockey–while not all his fault–also effects his value.
Teams interested in Eichel have a lot of leverage right now, IMO. I’m sure someone will offload considerable assets to acquire him, but Buffalo may have to pick between a return with “awesome quality” or one with “decent quantity,” Don’t bet on the Sabres getting both, unfortunately.
All signs point to a trade with the Rangers.
They really do, and the Rangers really need to not do it. Once some of their prospects breakout they’ll be able to go after bigger fish, like McDavid, or Draisaitl. They should stand pat this offseason, then make a mega move next offseason.
Even if the neck heals, the lack of heart is still a worrisome condition.
If Eichel has a character flaw, it’s that he cares too much. Sabres are not a good spot for someone like that.
Rangers have some top-tier D prospects, some depth wingers (Kakko, Laf, etc) and could send back Zibby
Something like K’Miller, Kakko, Strome for Jack E
Gives the Sabres some serious young talent and cap-space to maybe replace JE at Center. Then you’ve got a top 4 D and a top 6 wing and a top 6 center + whatever you can use the rest of the cap space to get….
Not perfect…not bad
That’s a bad trade if I ever saw one. The neck injury, obvious desire to move and the fact that we already tried last year means whatever that package was, it just got “worse”.
Quality for quality, don’t get me wrong, but if the Rangers pull the trigger (and hopefully don’t crack a rib in the process) it’ll likely be one centerpiece player(Miller or Kakko) plus a borderline prospect like Zac Jones, the first and another toss in.
I don’t think they’re THAT desperate to get him, especially with the recent regime change.
FWIW, I think that trade sounds close to right. Close enough that adding a first round pick to it would be too much. Add in a second or a second and a third, maybe, if BUF really holds out.
Totally disagree with that scenario. Miller? Kaako? Too much untapped talent to include them.
Strome? He the perfect non costly pice that fits well with panarin. I would not give up the future for eichel. In another year , free agent possibilities abound. If it takes this years first, and a prospect defenseman, winger, and say gauthier and howden, then yes. But i woukdnt mortage away all the last years work for him.
Nobody can blame Eichel, Reinhart & Ristolainen for wanting out of the Sabres. Clearly the Sabres weakness has been the management and coaching of the team. The Sabres are stacked with top ten picks and to me it is astonishing that such talent can underachieve as they have. So, why and where to from here for the Sabres. In my view, first make certain you get reasonable compensation if you offload these players. Then pick a coach who keeps it simple. To me picking four lines, defenseman pairings, a goalie tandem is key but stick to them. Don’t swap and change. Let them gel over a full season. In other words, stop with all the complicated coaching techniques and again keep it simple. Let the talent that Buffalo has in abundance take effect. Pretty simple really!
I mean Buffalo has 13 spots to fill and $32.65M to fill it with. 7 of those spots are RFAs. They will most likely be in excess of $15M if not more. 6 spots to fill with at least one QUALITY ‘tender needed and roughly $17M to do it? If Buffalo were to trade the big 3, you’d have a treasure trove of high end draft picks and quality players at a lesser price with contract security. Just saying. I’d say the Flyers should do the same, but just about everyone had a down year.